Three South Korean soldiers were injured by landmine explosions on the South Korean side of the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) on 21 September. Seoul says North Korean mines were “highly likely”, calls the blasts a breach of the 1953 armistice and has demanded an apology and an end to border fortification work, warning it will take corresponding measures.

Pyongyang denies responsibility, describing South Korea’s claims as groundless and accusing Seoul of provoking tensions; Kim Yo Jong, sister of leader Kim Jong Un, also warned the South it would pay a price. The 4km-wide DMZ was established by the armistice that halted fighting in the Korean War, and mine incidents have occurred there before, including a 2015 blast that wounded two South Korean soldiers. The United Nations Command, which investigated the latest explosions with South Korean forces, said it would address the matter through established armistice mechanisms.